OFE News Release

October 27, 2005
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Sen. Susan Paddack, former local education foundation outreach director for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, was honored with the nonprofit organization’s prestigious Roots and Wings Award during the 17th annual Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations.

“It is a pleasure to recognize Susan for her many years of service to public education and the people of Oklahoma,” said Teresa Adwan, president of the foundation. “Her dedication to establishing and supporting local education foundations has given the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence a solid base to help LEFs continue to grow and flourish in communities throughout the state.”

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is a nonprofit, charitable organization that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma's public schools.

In 1996, Paddack became the Foundation for Excellence’s first local education foundation (LEF) outreach director, a position she held until her election to the state senate. Paddack’s experience with LEFs began in her own community, where she served for many years on the board of the Ada City Schools Foundation.
She has served the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence in several areas, including trustee and executive committee member of the foundation, chair of the LEF Outreach Committee and co-chair of the Fall Forum. During her nine-year tenure as LEF Outreach director, Paddack traveled the state helping to establish new local education foundations and strengthen existing foundations. During those years, the number of LEFs in Oklahoma grew by more than 30 percent.

As a freshman senator, Paddack’s track record of leadership led to her appointment as majority whip and chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies. She has also been named chair of the Senate Education Committee.

“In her various positions as a teacher, board member and volunteer, Susan has made a great impact on public education in her hometown of Ada and communities throughout the state,” said Emily Stratton, executive director of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. “Today, she is taking her passion for the children of Oklahoma and her solid record of leadership to our state capitol where, in only a very short time, she is already making a difference for public education and local education foundations.”

Paddack has served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations that support youth and education, including the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, the Oklahoma Communities Foundation and the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum. As former president of the American Medical Association Alliance, she was appointed to serve on the national Commission for the Prevention of Youth Violence.